Today, Manitowoc has a single school district with one high school system that encompasses the entire city. This was not the case a century ago.

In 1935, Hi-Tower Flashes — a Lincoln High School publication — ran an article to commemorate the unification of the high school system.

“This spirited controversy of more than fifteen years was accomplished through the efforts of Judge Albert H. Schmidt, Frank A. Miller, and John C. Schmidtman. The residents of Manitowoc accepted the idea by a vote of 1179 to 118 in 1909.”

“The incident involving the change from four individual school districts, three of which included high schools, to a unified system is one of the most interesting in the history of the city.”

With three separate high schools, the expenses were double those of any other high school in the state. The city only had a population of 13,000 and did not warrant multiple high schools.

An original investigation by Schmidt, Miller, and Schmidtman showed that there was no unity between the schools.

“Different courses of study were offered; consequently, transferring from one ward to another often caused a year’s set back. Different text book systems were used, one school issuing free books while another required the student to buy his own. No type of supervision was exercised; the principal was usually employed in a teaching capacity. It was difficult to maintain accredited schools.”

“As a law authorizing the change required a vote of the people of the districts in question, the advocates of the new system began an education campaign to unite the four sections in 1895. Original investigation of the school systems of the state of Wisconsin was carried on, prominent educators of America were presented with the facts, and the arguments published and presented to the people. A great majority of the citizens, headed by some of the most prominent men in the city, were opposed to any change, and heated arguments took place.”

“When the matter was brought to a vote the first time the modern plan was defeated; however, in 1905 the measure was carried. On August seventh of that year, Mayor Henry Stolze Jr. appointed the first joint school board composed of one member from each of the seven wards and three at large. Opposition was strong and the old school boards refused to turn over the records, property and buildings.”

“The city started mandamus proceedings in circuit court to compel the districts to act under the new system. The case was tried and decided in favor of the former boards on the grounds that mistakes were made in the proceedings. In 1907 it was appealed to the State Supreme Court, whose decision was the same.”

“It was then necessary to begin the campaign over, and after four years of work, the opposition was overruled with a total vote of 1179-118 (majority required was 1,061).”

“After the board of the joint school system was created the first order of business was to select Peter J. Zimmers of Kenosha as superintendent of the schools. Because its central location and facilities were best adapted for a high school, the old West side High was chosen as the building for the new high school. There were twelve members in the first joint high school faculty.”

Tammy Reigel is the education coordinator at the Manitowoc County Historical Society.